Image sensor, control method, and electronic apparatus

Abstract

There is provided an image sensor that includes a pixel array section, a column processing section, and a row control section. The pixel array section is configured to include two or more shared pixel cells arranged in a two-dimensional array, the shared pixel cells each including a plurality of pixels that output electric signals by photoelectric conversion. The column processing section is configured to process the electric signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells on a plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array. The row control section is configured to perform access control differently between one and another of the rows for reading the electric signals from the pixels in the shared pixel cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image sensor comprising:
 a pixel array circuitry having two or more shared pixel cells arranged in a two-dimensional array, shared pixel cells of the two or more shared cells including a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels is configured to output an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion; 
 a row control circuitry configured to perform access control differently between a first row and a second row of a plurality of rows for individually reading the electrical signal from the each pixel in the plurality of pixels in the shared pixel cells; 
 a column processing circuitry configured to process the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells in the two-dimensional array, 
 wherein a column of the shared pixel cells is connected to a plurality of column signal lines, and wherein the electrical signals that are read from each of the shared pixel cells are supplied to the column processing circuitry via the plurality of column signal lines; 
 a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel to the column processing circuitry; and 
 a switch configured to select which of the plurality of capacitors is connected to the plurality of column signal lines, 
 wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to perform weight addition on the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, and wherein the weight addition is performed by supplying the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells via one of the plurality of capacitors connected to the plurality of column signal lines. 
 
     
     
       2. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the column processing circuitry includes a first portion that is provided on a first side of the plurality of column signal lines and a second portion that is provided on a second side of the plurality of column signal lines. 
     
     
       3. The image sensor according to  claim 2 , wherein the column of the shared pixel cells is connected to two column signal lines of the plurality of column signal lines, wherein
 a first column signal line of the two column signal lines is connected to the shared pixel cells in odd rows of the column of the shared pixel cells, 
 a second column signal line of the two column signal lines is connected to the shared pixel cells in even rows of the column of the shared pixel cells, 
 wherein the column processing circuitry further includes an AD conversion circuitry configured to perform Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion of the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, 
 wherein the first portion of the column processing circuitry provided on the first side of the plurality of column signal lines includes the AD conversion circuitry for one or more columns of shared pixels cells including the column of the shared pixel cells, wherein the first portion of the column processing circuitry performs the AD conversion of the electrical signals from the shared pixel cells connected to the first column signal line, and 
 wherein the row control circuitry is configured to perform the access control of reading the electrical signal from the each pixel in the plurality of pixels in different positions between the shared pixel cells in the odd rows and the even rows of the column of the shared pixel cells. 
 
     
     
       4. The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of pixels in each of the shared pixel cells share a Floating Diffusion (FD), wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to read an addition signal from the shared pixel cells by performing the access control of reading the electrical signals at the same time from two or more of the plurality of pixels sharing the FD, and wherein the addition signal is based on the FD addition of the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the two or more of the plurality of pixels. 
     
     
       5. The image sensor according to  claim 4 , wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to perform the FD addition with which a vertical interval is made substantially uniform between the plurality of pixels. 
     
     
       6. The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to perform the access control differently between the one or more columns of the shared pixel cells. 
     
     
       7. The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein
 by the access control of reading the electrical signals at the same time from the shared pixel cells that are on the plurality of rows and are connected to any one of the plurality of column signal lines, the row control circuitry adds together the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells on the any one of the plurality of column signal lines for supply to the column processing circuitry. 
 
     
     
       8. The image sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the column processing circuitry is provided on a first side of the plurality of column signal lines, wherein the column processing circuitry includes an AD conversion circuitry that is configured to perform Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion of the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, and wherein the AD conversion circuitry includes a circuit portion for each of the two or more shared pixel cells arranged in the two-dimensional array. 
     
     
       9. A control method of an image sensor including a pixel array circuitry having two or more shared pixel cells arranged in a two-dimensional array, shared pixel cells of the two or more shared pixel cells having a plurality of pixels, a row control circuitry, a column processing circuitry, a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel to the column processing circuitry, and a switch, wherein a column of the shared pixel cells is connected to a plurality of column signal lines, the method comprising:
 outputting, with each pixel in the plurality of pixels, an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion; 
 performing, with the row control circuitry, access control differently between a first row and a second row of a plurality of rows for individually reading the electrical signal from the each pixel in the plurality of pixels in the shared pixel cells; 
 selecting, with the switch, which of the plurality of capacitors is connected to the plurality of column signal lines; 
 performing, with the row control circuitry, weight addition on the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, and wherein the weight addition is performed by supplying the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells via one of the plurality of capacitors connected to the plurality of column signal lines; 
 supplying, with the plurality of column signal lines, the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells to the column processing circuitry; and 
 processing, with the column processing circuitry, the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells in the two-dimensional array. 
 
     
     
       10. An electronic apparatus comprising:
 an optical system configured to gather light: 
 an image sensor configured to capture an image by receiving the light, the image sensor including
 a pixel array circuitry having two or more shared pixel cells arranged in a two-dimensional array, shared pixel cells of the two or more shared pixel cells including a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel in the plurality of pixels is configured to output an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion, 
 a row control circuitry configured to perform access control differently between a first row and a second row of a plurality of rows for individually reading the electrical signal from the each pixel in the plurality of pixels in the shared pixel cells, and 
 a column processing circuitry configured to process the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells in the two-dimensional array, 
 wherein a column of the shared pixel cells is connected to a plurality of column signal lines, and wherein the electrical signals that are read from each of the shared pixel cells are supplied to the column processing circuitry via the plurality of column signal lines; 
 a plurality of capacitors connected in parallel to the column processing circuitry; and 
 a switch configured to select which of the plurality of capacitors is connected to the plurality column signal lines, wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to perform weight addition on the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, and wherein the weight addition is performed by supplying the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells via one of the plurality of capacitors connected to the plurality of column signal lines. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the column processing circuitry includes a first portion that is provided on a first side of the plurality of column signal lines and a second portion that is provided on a second side of the plurality of column signal lines. 
     
     
       12. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the column of the shared pixel cells is connected to two column signal lines of the plurality of column signal lines, wherein
 a first column signal line of the two column signal lines is connected to the shared pixel cells in odd rows of the column of the shared pixel cells, 
 a second column signal line of the two column signal lines is connected to the shared pixel cells in even rows of the column of the shared pixel cells, 
 wherein the column processing circuitry further includes an AD conversion circuitry configured to perform Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion of the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, 
 wherein the first portion of the column processing circuitry provided on the first side of the plurality of column signal lines includes the AD conversion circuitry for one or more columns of shared pixels cells including the column of the shared pixel cells, wherein the first portion of the column processing circuitry performs the AD conversion of the electrical signals from the shared pixel cells connected to the first column signal line, and 
 wherein the row control circuitry is configured to perform the access control of reading the electrical signal from the each pixel in the plurality of pixels in different positions between the shared pixel cells in the odd rows and the even rows of the column of the shared pixel cells. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pixels in each of the shared pixel cells share a Floating Diffusion (FD), wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to read an addition signal from the shared pixel cells by performing the access control of reading the electrical signals at the same time from two or more of the plurality of pixels sharing the FD, and wherein the addition signal is based on the FD addition of the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the two or more of the plurality of pixels. 
     
     
       14. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to perform the FD addition with which a vertical interval is made substantially uniform between the plurality of pixels. 
     
     
       15. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the row control circuitry is further configured to perform the access control differently between the one or more columns of the shared pixel cells. 
     
     
       16. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein by the access control of reading the electrical signals at the same time from the shared pixel cells that are on the plurality of rows and are connected to any one of the plurality of column signal lines, the row control circuitry is configured to add together the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells on the any one of the plurality of column signal lines for supply to the column processing circuitry. 
     
     
       17. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the column processing circuitry is provided on a first side of the plurality of column signal lines, wherein the column processing circuitry includes an AD conversion circuitry that is configured to perform Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion of the electrical signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells, and wherein the AD conversion circuitry includes a circuit portion for each of the two or more shared pixel cells arranged in the two-dimensional array.